Computer program, method, and system for monitoring nutrition content of consumables and for facilitating menu planning

Abstract

A computer program, method, and system for dynamically and interactively providing nutrition content information for consumables such that a user may monitor, tailor, plan, and review their intake thereof in light of a health-related interest or concern, such as, for example, weight-loss, food allergies, or diabetes or other nutrition affected illnesses or disabilities. Consumables are categorized and displayed in lists associated with an appropriate color to draw attention to relative nutrition content and to facilitate quicker and easier evaluation of a consumable of interest. Summaries are provided of a user's actual intake in light of a pre-established target intake for a particular day. Detailed reports may be generated showing consumption over a user-specifiable time period.

1. A hand-held apparatus for providing nutrition content information, the hand-held apparatus comprising:
 a housing;  
 a computer-readable memory located within the housing and storing a combination of code segments and a database including consumables and related nutrition content information;  
 a processor located within the housing and operable to execute the combination of code segments and access the database to sort the consumables into a plurality of lists corresponding to a health-related concern;  
 an output device incorporated into the housing and operable to display an interactive display screen generated by the combination of code segments, the interactive display screen presenting the lists and a remaining consumption value; and  
 an input device coupled with the processor and operable to allow a user to select a particular consumable from the lists and to enter a target consumption value corresponding to a maximum future intake of one or more nutrients, whereupon the processor determines the remaining consumption value based on the difference between the target consumption value and the related nutrition content information of each selected consumable; and  
 wherein the health-related concern is selected from the group consisting of the following: caloric content, protein content, carbohydrate content, fat content, vitamin content, mineral content, sugar content.  
 
   
   
     2. A hand-held apparatus for providing nutrition content information, the hand-held apparatus comprising:
 a housing;  
 a computer-readable memory located within the housing and storing a combination of code segments and a database including consumables and related nutrition content information;  
 a processor located within the housing and operable to execute the combination of code segments and access the database to sort the consumables into a plurality of lists corresponding to a health-related concern;  
 an output device incorporated into the housing and operable to display an interactive display screen generated by the combination of code segments, the interactive display screen presenting the lists and a remaining consumption value; and  
 an input device coupled with the processor and operable to allow a user to select a particular consumable from the lists and to enter a target consumption value corresponding to a maximum future intake of one or more nutrients, whereupon the processor determines the remaining consumption value based on the difference between the target consumption value and the related nutrition content information of each selected consumable; and  
 wherein input device is operable to allow the user to customize the database based on a consumption habit.  
 
   
   
     3. A hand-held apparatus for providing nutrition content information, the hand-held apparatus comprising:
 a housing;  
 a computer-readable memory located within the housing and storing a combination of code segments and a database including consumables and related nutrition content information;  
 a processor located within the housing and operable to execute the combination of code segments and access the database to sort the consumables into a plurality of lists corresponding to a health-related concern;  
 an output device incorporated into the housing and operable to display an interactive display screen generated by the combination of code segments, the interactive display screen presenting the lists and a remaining consumption value; and  
 an input device coupled with the processor and operable to allow a user to select a particular consumable from the lists and to enter a target consumption value corresponding to a maximum future intake of one or more nutrients, whereupon the processor determines the remaining consumption value based on the difference between the target consumption value and the related nutrition content information of each selected consumable; and  
 wherein the hand-held apparatus is powered exclusively by one or more cells or batteries.  
 
   
   
     4. A hand-held apparatus for providing nutrition content information, the hand-held apparatus comprising:
 a housing;  
 a computer-readable memory located within the housing and storing a combination of code segments and a database including consumables and related nutrition content information;  
 a processor located within the housing and operable to execute the combination of code segments and access the database to sort the consumables into a plurality of lists corresponding to a health-related concern;  
 an output device incorporated into the housing and operable to display an interactive display screen generated by the combination of code segments, the interactive display screen presenting the lists and a remaining consumption value; and  
 an input device coupled with the processor and operable to allow a user to select a particular consumable from the lists and to enter a target consumption value corresponding to a maximum future intake of one or more nutrients, whereupon the processor determines the remaining consumption value based on the difference between the target consumption value and the related nutrition content information of each selected consumable; and  
 wherein the input device is a stylus.  
 
   
   
     5. A hand-held apparatus for providing nutrition content information, the hand-held apparatus comprising:
 a housing;  
 a computer-readable memory located within the housing and storing a combination of code segments and a database including consumables and related nutrition content information;  
 a processor located within the housing and operable to execute the combination of code segments and access the database to sort the consumables into a plurality of lists corresponding to a health-related concern;  
 an output device incorporated into the housing and operable to display an interactive display screen generated by the combination of code segments, the interactive display screen presenting the lists and a remaining consumption value; and  
 an input device coupled with the processor and operable to allow a user to select a particular consumable from the lists and to enter a target consumption value corresponding to a maximum future intake of one or more nutrients, whereupon the processor determines the remaining consumption value based on the difference between the target consumption value and the related nutrition content information of each selected consumable; and  
 wherein the input device is a touch screen.  
 
   
   
     6. A hand-held apparatus for providing nutrition content information, the hand-held apparatus comprising:
 a housing;  
 a computer-readable memory located within the housing and storing a combination of code segments and a database including consumables and related nutrition content information;  
 a processor located within the housing and operable to execute the combination of code segments and access the database to sort the consumables into a plurality of lists corresponding to a health-related concern;  
 an output device incorporated into the housing and operable to display an interactive display screen generated by the combination of code segments, the interactive display screen presenting the lists and a remaining consumption value; and  
 an input device coupled with the processor and operable to allow a user to select a particular consumable from the lists and to enter a target consumption value corresponding to a maximum future intake of one or more nutrients, whereupon the processor determines the remaining consumption value based on the difference between the target consumption value and the related nutrition content information of each selected consumable; and  
 wherein the output device is a liquid crystal display.  
 
   
   
     7. A computer program comprising a combination of code segments stored in a computer-readable memory and executable by a processor to provide nutrition information, the computer program comprising:
 a database including consumables and related nutrition content information;  
 a code segment operable to receive an input relating to a health-related concern;  
 a code segment operable to sort the consumables into a plurality of scrollable lists based on the input and the nutrition content information; and  
 a code segment operable to display the lists;  
 further including a code segment operable to customize the database based on a consumption habit.  
 
   
   
     8. The computer program as set forth in  claim 7 , wherein the health-related concern is selected from the group consisting of the following: caloric content, protein content, carbohydrate content, fat content, vitamin content, mineral content, sugar content. 
   
   
     9. A computer program comprising a combination of code segments stored in a computer-readable memory and executable by a processor to provide nutrition information, the computer program comprising:
 a database including consumables and related nutrition content information;  
 a code segment operable to receive an input relating to a health-related concern;  
 a code segment operable to sort the consumables into a plurality of scrollable lists based on the input and the nutrition content information;  
 a code segment operable to display the lists; and  
 wherein each of the lists is associated with a color to aid a user in evaluating the relative effect of consumables in the list with regard to the health-related concern.  
 
   
   
     10. The computer program as set forth in  claim 9 , further including a code segment operable to receive login information identifying a user, and recalling, based upon the login information, a user data set of specific user information. 
   
   
     11. The computer program as set forth in  claim 9 , wherein the database is accessible through a computing network. 
   
   
     12. A computer program comprising a combination of code segments stored in a computer-readable memory and executable by a processor to provide nutrition information, the computer program comprising:
 a database including consumables and related nutrition content information;  
 a code segment operable to receive an input relating to a health-related concern;  
 a code segment operable to sort the consumables into a plurality of scrollable lists based on the input and the nutrition content information;  
 a code segment operable to display the lists; and  
 further including a code segment operable to accept a target consumption value corresponding to a maximum future intake of one or more nutrients.  
 
   
   
     13. The computer program as set forth in  claim 12 , further including a code segment operable to allow a user to select at least one of the consumables from the lists. 
   
   
     14. The computer program as set forth in  claim 13 , further including a code segment operable to determine and display a remaining consumption value based on the difference between the target consumption value and the related nutrition content information of each selected consumable. 
   
   
     15. A computer program comprising a combination of code segments stored in a computer-readable memory and executable by a processor to provide nutrition information, the computer program comprising:
 a database including consumables and related nutrition content information;  
 a code segment operable to receive an input relating to a health-related concern;  
 a code segment operable to sort the consumables into a plurality of scrollable, color-associated lists based on the input and the nutrition content information;  
 a code segment operable to customize the database based on a consumption habit;  
 a code segment operable to allow the user to select at least one of the consumables from the lists;  
 a code segment operable to accept a target consumption value corresponding to a maximum future intake of one or more nutrients;  
 a code segment operable to determine a remaining consumption value based on the difference between the target consumption value and the related nutrition content information of each selected consumable; and  
 a code segment operable to display the lists and the remaining consumption value.  
 
   
   
     16. The computer program as set forth in  claim 15 , further including a code segment operable to receive login information identifying a user, and recalling, based upon the login information, a user data set of specific user information. 
   
   
     17. The computer program as set forth in  claim 15 , wherein the database is accessible through a computing network. 
   
   
     18. The computer program as set forth in  claim 15 , wherein the health-related concern is selected from the group consisting of the following: caloric content, protein content, carbohydrate content, fat content, vitamin content, mineral content, sugar content.